Book Reading & Signing @Milkie's On Elmwood This Sunday With Diane Meholick & Justin Karcher!

     My Fall/Winter slate of book readings and signings kicks of this Sunday at Milkie’s On Elmwood from 4-8 p.m.  Admission is free and I’ll be offering discounts on bundled book purchases!  I thought it would be fun to team up with some other local artists and musicians this year, so I’ll be doing a Round-Around-Robin with science fiction author Diane Meholick (Buffalo Stories, Painting Katherine, A Switch In Time) as well as young upstart Justin Karcher (Tailgating At The Gates Of Hell).  I’m firming up some other readings in November, December and beyond, but this one should be a real blast!  A poet, an essayist and a science fiction writer walk into a bar…there’s a good joke in there somewhere.  We’ll get ot the bottom of it this Sunday!

We hope to see you there!

Tom

Doubt It Publishing @The Buffalo Small Press Book Fair

The show must go on!

While I'm not sure if I'll be able to attend or not due to work obligations, Doubt It Publishing will have a table at the event along with a catalog of books on sale at The Buffalo Small Press Book Fair.  Doubt It authors Mark McElligott (Random Thoughts From A Broken Mind) and David Waters (12 Priests & 3 Gnomes) will be at the event to hawk their wares, sign some books and meet and greet with attendees.  The boys will also have copies of If They Can't Take A Joke, Slapstick & Superego, Mockery and Poke The Scorpion With A Sharp Stick for sale. 

This will be the third year that Doubt It Publishing will participate in the event.  The Buffalo Small Press Book Fair takes place on Saturday, March 24th at the Karpeles Manuscript Museum in downtown Buffalo from noon-6 p.m.  For more information, feel free to visit:  http://www.buffalosmallpress.org/  

Buy our books already!

Tom Waters

Publisher, Author

Doubt It Publishing  

Book Signing Dec.4th @Talking Leaves Elmwood w/Mark McElligott

After a four month flurry of promotions together, Mark McElligott and I are still a bit tired and weary.  Nevertheless, we are planning some book events during the busy holiday season.  On Sunday, December 4th, we'll both be at Talking Leaves on Elmwood from 4-6 pm signing copies of Poke The Scorpion With A Sharp Stick, Mockery and Mark's breakout hit Random Thoughts From A Broken Mind.  All three books will be available for $15.  Talking Leaves currently has all three books in stock at both their Elmwood and Main St. locations.

I'm also in the process of setting something up at Dog Ears Books in South Buffalo for December, so stay tuned for news about that.  On top of that, Mark's shown an interest in booking an event at Café Karma in Lockport, so odds are strong that we'll book something for him there. 

Even when we're not busy, we're busy.  I'm promoting lightly on Poke The Scorpion until my calendar frees up, so please try to make it out to Talking Leaves if you want a copy.  My time for the next month is deeply invested in proof-reading an editing a possible manuscript for next year and everything else is on a back burner for the time being.  While my poetry books have never been blockbusters in terms of sales, they're steady sellers over the years and they mean every bit as much to me as the humor books or other projects. 

We look forward to seeing you in December,

Tom Waters

Poke The Scorpion Publicity Junket Rescheduled for late October

     I try to follow my instincts, and my gut tells me that it's a smarter idea to promote Poke The Scorpion With A Sharp Stick during the actual Scorpio season, which runs from October 23rd through November 21st.  While the book is already out online, it makes more sense to promote it effectively during the boom season for the rest of my tribe, so to speak.  While I'm not superstitious and while I don't cling to too many pat philosophies, there are too many parallels and far too many coincidences associated with the Scorpio sign that are worth giving tribute to.  The entire book is devoted to the Scorpio mentality along with scorpions as a species.
     While my poetry collections make up a very small percentage of my overall revenue, the new book is still worth hitting the road and promoting.  Some people shut down instantaneously when you even mention the word poetry, so they're not going to even be receptive.  Other people's ears perk up at the notion of something new and innovative.  Others can be converted given the right circumstances.  That's the market I'm going after.  It's my wish to incorporate a few readings, signings and related events along with some old tricks that have worked in the past.  Mark McElligott will be joining me on the journey in Buffalo and beyond.  The Monsters Of Verse will get back into the habit this fall with a few coffee houses and a few bookstores.  I'm entertaining the idea of even doing some guest bartending stints just for the hell of it.
     Breathing Room Volume I was wildly successful considering the miniscule hopes I had for it.  Volume II did just okay by comparison, but it was weirder, so that's okay.  The few people who picked up the first batch of Scorpion books have called it 'the best poetry book I've written so far.'  It may be my last.  Locking into that frame of mind is difficult to do, but I'd be happy to go out on a high note where poetry is concerned.
     Please enjoy your summers and free up a few weekends in late October and November.  Poke The Scorpion will be hitting you where it hurts soon enough.  In the mean time, I'll be crouched in a small dark place waiting to strike.  Like most scorpions.
Thanks for staying tuned,
Tom Waters 

Poke The Scorpion Book Giveaway!

This month I'll be giving away three random signed copies of Poke The Scorpion With A Sharp Stick.  What do you have to do to get it? 

1. 'Like' Poke The Scorpion on FB by following this link:

http://www.lulu.com/product/paperback/poke-the-scorpion-with-a-sharp-stick-selected-poems-2008-2011/16130225?productTrackingContext=search_results/search_shelf/center/1

2. Rate the book on lulu.com.

3. Post a link on your Twitter, FB, Google + or any other website you may have.

4. Leave  a comment on this post.

5. Drop me an email at bigwordsmailbag@yahoo.com with 'Contest' in the subject heading.

            Final deadline is August 1st, 2011.  Whether you live in Buffalo or beyond, I'll hold a random drawing at the end of July.  If you're local I'll hand you a copy at the first scheduled reading or signing for Poke The Scorpion in August.  If you live out of state or in another country, I'll send you a signed copy out of pocket.  I'd like to launch this book with a bang and I need your help to do it!

Game on,

Tom Waters 

Poke The Scorpion With A Sharp Stick: 30% Off Soft Launch Orders!

Here we go again…

            It's July 1st and (as promised), I'm proud to announce the heavily discounted soft launch of Poke The Scorpion With A Sharp Stick, my third collection of angry, funny and oversexed poetry.  While I wouldn't say that this go round is tamer than Breathing Room Volume I and II, it is softer somehow.  I wrote the bulk of the book right before and right after my wedding, so there's a soft sense of acceptance and inner peaceto the body of work that sets it apart from the other two books.  I'm very proud of the collection for the leap forward in originality as well as the design and the format.  For those of you willing to take a chance on something different, you won't be disappointed.  From now until August (when I plan on promoting the book in Buffalo), Scorpion will be 30% off if you buy direct on lulu.com.  Here's your quick link:

http://www.lulu.com/product/paperback/poke-the-scorpion-with-a-sharp-stick-selected-poems-2008-2011/16130225

            After four solid months of interviews, press releases, and appearances for Mockery, I'm ready for a break.  Mark McElligott, Dave 'The Real Deal' Waters and I have one more outing at Brennan's Bowery Bar next Sunday (The Brennan's Boxed Trifecta) on Sunday, July 10th at 6 p.m. and then I've got a month off before we kick back into high gear.  I've never felt that summer was a good time to promote because there are too many other events going on to compete with, so we'll be resting up and waiting out the season before we get right back into it this fall. 

            For those of you who helped to make Mockery my fastest-selling book, thank you.  It's on target to be my best-selling humor collection to date by year's end.  There's a momentum to all of this that seems to be catching up to me this year in a good way.  Hopefully most of you will make the leap of faith over to Scorpion and join me for the second half of this year.  Things are only going to get better from here on out.  There's a lot left to accomplish. 

Enjoy your 4th of July and buy my new damned book!

Tom Waters  

Final Wraparound Art For Poke The Scorpion With A Sharp Stick

Final wraparound art for Poke The Scorpion With A Sharp Stick by Six Shot Studios.  We're rounding third and heading for home on this one, folks.

Preliminary Cover Art for Poke The Scorpion With A Sharp Stick by Brian Platter (Six Shot Studios)

Coming this August whether you're ready for it or not.

Call For Submissions/Manuscript Review From June-November

     While Mark McElligott has already begun promoting Random Thoughts From A Broken Mind before his impending book launch in June (radio appearances, a video shoot for Time Warner Cable and a promising invitation to host his own radio show), Doubt It Publishing is splitting focus to look for a promising writer to publish in 2012. 
     The submission period will run from June 1st to November 1st.  Doubt It Publishing is looking for a full length manuscript of fiction, non-fiction or poetry.  Genres include fiction, humor, horror, memoir, science fiction or suspense.  No romance or self-help, please.  If you're sending a poetry manuscript, please make sure that it's marketable material with previously published excerpts.  Doubt It focuses ONLY on authors who reside in the Buffalo area and surrounding suburbs.
     The final deadline for 2012 consideration is December 1st.  Please send a query, full manuscript (attachment) or sample chapter (attachment) to: bigwordsmailbag@yahoo.com.
     Mark's book was a refreshing and completely unexpected surprise.  I'm looking forward to seeing what other intriguing and exciting works Buffalo has to offer.  If you feel that your book has a 'wow' factor, please send it in.  If you're willing to actively promote your book, I'm willing to work around the clock to schedule dates and appearances.  Writing the book isn't the easy part, but promoting it isn't easier either.  Show me that you have the raw talent and the drive to put your book into the hands of a larger audience and Doubt It will publish, promote and stand behind your book and yours alone in 2012.
Sincerely,
Tom Waters
Publisher
Doubt It Publishing 

Final Deadline For Full Length Manuscript Submissions is January 1st, 2011

            We're about two weeks away from the final deadline for manuscript submissions for the 2011 Doubt It Publishing Author Of The Year.  I'll be reviewing submissions throughout January and should come to a final decision on which author I'll be working with by February 1st, 2011.  I'm looking for poetry (full length, no chapbooks), fiction, nonfiction or humor.    

            Again, please submit all works with your genre in the subject heading of the email, a query letter and an attachment of your feature length work to: bigwordsmailbag@yahoo.com.  I don’t charge any reading fees and I don't offer any 'editorial services', but I will be picking the best manuscript for a 2011 publication date as well as a promotional book tour.  There are a few early front runners who show promise, but I wouldn't rule out an eleventh hour upset or a surprise wunderkind.

            I'll be partnering with a new or existing Buffalo author and splitting the up-front production costs for the interior layout and design, which are minimal.  I've got multiple graphic designers who are chomping at the bit to showcase their work for the next Doubt It Publishing publication.  Once the  book is formatted and proof read, we'll release it in the fall and planning a publicity plan that works best for the material presented.  Doubt It will retain 15% of the royalties while the winning author will keep 85%.  We'll set the price on the paperback and/or hardcover.        

Good luck and keep writing!

Tom Waters

Doubt It Publishing

Mission Statement Of Sorts

     Welcome to the new site.  Since founding Doubt It Publishing two years ago, it's about time that we had an official site for interested consumers, curious authors, and puzzled literary agents.  With five published and successful books under our belt, it's high time that we made our presence known.
     Doubt It Publishing was conceived almost a decade ago as a means to trumpet the unbelievable talent and untapped potential of a strong literary undercurrent in Buffalo, NY.  There are too many unsung and brilliant voices in the region and instead of charging unreasonable 'entry fees' for contests, hooking up our pals for book deals and publishing their books under vanity presses with university connections or funding the company for our own selfish means while extorting the raw talent that fuels us, we decided to do something honest.
     This is the beginning of a new publishing house.  Reasonable publishing commissions for a select number of new authors per year.  As a founder and fellow writer, I'm not out to exploit someone else's work and I have no desire to profit on someone else's brain child since we're in the same boat.  I plan on paying charging 15% on sales of the book while working directly with each author to implement a publicity plan that's specific to the their goals, availability, and the genre itself.  While I am not a distributor, Doubt It Publishing will distribute through lulu.com (and by extension Amazon, Barnes & Noble and other online retailers) where we can set a price point and thereby calculate a fair commission for contributors. 
     I've got fifteen years of experience writing for every newspaper, weekly alternative paper and magazine in Buffalo and beyond.  I've promoted my own books in corporate bookstores (Media Play, Borders, FYE), local proprietorships (Talking Leaves, Rust Belt Books), coffee shops (Spot Coffee), nightclubs (Desiderios, Magruders, Lafeyette Tap Room) and more.  I've promoted on the air with Brian Kahle, Country 106.5 FM WYRK, and Time Warner Cable.  As the host of a radio show (The Big Words I Know By Heart Radio Hour) that's gone on to attract hundreds of downloads per month and unique hits in the neighborhood of 100,000 or more, I'm happy to say that I can bend the ear of a specific audience.
     I'm looking to take on one new author per year.  After a successful anthology launch (Voices From The Herd: An Anthology For Buffalo NY), it's time to take Doubt It to new and ambitious heights.  If you're a Buffalo author and you have a polished manuscript, I'd like to hear from you.  Please send a query with a cover letter, and synopsis to bigwordsmailbag@yahoo.com.  The clock is ticking on 2010.  We've got two months left to select a new distinguished author for 2011. 
      You can print on demand or pay through the ear for a local 'publisher' who's juiced in with all the right people and make less than nothing.  Or you can trust my experience and place your convictions in a fellow writer who's been toiling away in the trenches right along with you.  Life has afforded me a modicum of success, connections and media access.  I'd like to share it with somone else.  My deadline is January 1st, 2011.  Fiction, Nonfiction, or Poetry. I'm specifically looking for short story collections, contemporary fiction or consistent and challenging poetry.  If you have a talent in written word worth promoting (and a desire to actively promote your book in Buffalo), I'd like to partner with you.

Sincerely,
Tom Waters
Publisher
Doubt It Publishing